While there have been two electric utility programs for solar in place, Customer Grid Supply (CGS) and Customer Self Supply (CSS), yesterday was the deadline to submit an application for the CGS program. CGS allowed homeowners to receive reduced solar credits for the excess electricity they generate with their photovoltaic (PV) system and send it back to the grid.
Now, under the sole CSS program, all solar electricity must be used or stored in batteries for later use, as you will no longer be allowed to export energy back into the utility grid. However, you are still able to draw electricity from the grid when needed. Even though you will no longer receive solar credits under CSS, there is no limit to your savings.
Hawaii Energy Connection (HEC), the local company known as “KumuKit™,” has surpassed big mainland companies in battery storage and energy management technology and has installed more than a hundred KumuKit™ systems with battery storage under the CGS and CSS programs here in the state. In fact, the company is the pioneer of the first utility-approved, AC-coupled (versus DC-coupled) PV battery storage system in Hawaii.
HEC’s battery storage system is called the “KumuKit Powerblocks™” because of its modular design and how it allows for easy upgrade and incremental expansion to match your needs and solar PV production. It is designed to be simple, monitored and controlled by you with its innovative, sophisticated proprietary Energy Management Controller (EMC), unlike any other energy management system in the market today.
The company has many customers approved and already installed with its KumuKit™ systems with battery storage under the CSS program and has the “fast-pass” to get your system approved and installed quickly. Under this program, you can get as many panels as you want to offset your electricity bill at full retail rates.
The KumuKit Power-blocks™ makes sense for homeowners by providing the capacity to store the less-expensive electricity your PV system generates during the day for use during peak periods, when power demand and cost are the highest — typically in the evening when everyone comes home and begins cooking dinner, taking showers, washing clothes, etc.
Additionally, in the case of a power outage, the battery system can provide critical load emergency backup to the home. Critical loads, such as lighting, medical equipment, refrigerator, television and radio, are important to your family in times of emergency to keep them going without missing a beat, especially during the inevitable hurricane season.
Remember to take advantage of the still available state and federal tax credits (up to 65 percent) and the fi nancing options that make it easy to own.
A great feature of the innovative KumuKit Power-blocks™ is that it connects to new and existing PV systems. Take charge of the solar power you generate. In light of all the changes imposed by utilities and regulatory agencies, this transformational storage technology gives consumers more choices and control in their efforts to save money while using renewable energy.
HAWAII ENERGY CONNECTION (KUMUKIT)
contact // 524-7336 •
address // 99-1350 Koaha Place •
web // kumukit.com
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